USA 2-1 Australia
By Kieran Yap 23/2/25
Above: Wini Heatley for Australia. Photo:Michael Christy/Football Australia)
The Matildas have responded in encouraging fashion against an inexperienced but talented USA with a 2-1 loss.
Lynn Biyendolo opened the scoring in the first minute for the USWNT with Michelle Cooper doubling the advantage after half time. Michelle Heyman pulled one back for Australia in the final ten minutes, but The Matildas could not find an equaliser.
Australia arrived at the State Farm Stadium in Arizona looking to restore from wounded pride after a comprehensive loss to Japan in game one. In that match, The Matildas could barely get a foothold in the game, and failed to test the Japanese defence while struggling to contain their attack. Before this game, The Nadeshiko put another four goals past Colombia in a display that looks as exciting as it is frightening ahread of next year’s Asian Cup.
Tom Sermanni indicated at the start of the She Believes Cup that he would rotate this squad over the three games, and made some tactical changes after the game one loss. Steph Catley moved to centre back, Alanna Kennedy shifted to her preferred role on the right, Charli Grant came into left back and Wini Heatley partnered Kyra Cooney-Cross in midfield.
Up front, Holly McNamara started as the central striker, flanked by Hayley Raso and Caitlin Foord. Teagan Micah started in goal.
The opening goal was team effort, both for the USA and for Australia. The American kicked off the game in top gear and sliced through the Australian midfield and defence before teeing up Biyendolo for an easy finish in the six yard box.
Despite, the earliest of setbacks, Australia settled into to contest. Heatley provided an effective midfield screen to protect the back four and although they were vulnerable on the counter attack, Australia looked much more comfortable than they did in game one.
Crosses from Ellie Carpenter and Grant threatened the American defence, and Holly McNamara stayed central to occupy the US centre back, allowing Raso and Foord to occasionally have one-on-one opportunities.
Australia were spared a second goal against them by the offside flag, but were not out of the contest by the half time whistle.
The USA scored their second after the hour mark. Claire Hutton bisected the Australia defence with a sharp decisive pass through the middle and Cooper finished the move after the initial shot by Ally Sentor was scuffed.
Australia gave themselves a lifeline in the 80th minute when Cooney-Cross’s long pass released Raso on the right. The Tottenham winger whipped in an early ball that Michelle Heyman met at full pace and with a nodded finish to make it 2-1.
The second goal would not come, but although this was another loss for Australia, it was a far more encouraging display.
The move of Catley to central defence helped steady the ship, and put the skipper in a more influential position. The benefit of having a left footed player on one side and a right footed centre back on the other were visibly obvious with and without the ball.
Heatley continues to convince as a defensive option both in midfield as as part of a back four. Australia has long needed a specialist ball-winner in the centre of the park to help the defence and allow Cooney-Cross to play with more attacking intent.
The Arsenal midfielder was terrific in a game with little space and her long passing continues to be an asset that Australia can reply on.
There was a lot to like about this performance, but against a USWNT with an average age of 24, it might be of some concern that The USA began their rebuilt less than a year ago and already look to haver lapped Australia in that department. However, we still do not know if a squad regeneration is part of the plan, and probably won’t until the new permanent coach is found.
Australia continue to bring in new faces. Laini Freier stepped onto the pitch for the first time, as did Alana Murphy. The Victory maestro is one of the real success stories of the development pathways in Australian Football. Murphy has risen from the Victorian NTC and Victory Elite Girls Program to being a train-on with the Young Matildas at the 2022 U20 World Cup. She established herself as a senior A-League midfielder and became a vital part of the Young Matildas as they dominated Asian Cup qualifying before finishing third in the tournament itself.
This debut has been a long time coming, and it will be exciting to see more of Australia’s best youngsters getting opportunities at senior level.
This was an improved performance by The Matildas against a USA squad hungry to prove themselves and with intense competition for places in the lineup.
The game against Colombia will tell us more about where this squad is and where it may be headed.
Teams: USA (4-2-3-1): McGlynn, G Thompson, Sams, Davidson, Dunn, Albert, Hutton, A Thompson, Shaw, Sears, Williams. Substitutes: Mckeown, Sentnor, Coffee, Cooper, Ryan, Fox, Campbell, Nighswonger, Heaps, Yohannes, Sonnett, Macario
Scorers: Williams 1’ Cooper 68’
AUSTRALIA (4-2-1-3): Micah, Carpenter, Kennedy, Catley, Grant, Heatley, Cooney-Cross, Fowler, Raso, Foord, McNamara. Substitutes: Arnold, Heyman, Gorry, Hunt, Prior, Murphy, Torpey, Van Egmond, Freier, Yallop, Galic, Lincoln.
Scorer: Heyman 80’.
Referee: Amairany Garcia (MEX).
Attendance: 23,503.
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